25 years of INASP

INASP has over 25 years of experience of working across research and knowledge systems in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Evidence and knowledge are central to solving development challenges... This has been a cornerstone of INASP’s work for the past 25 years and it will remain the core driving force as we continue to support Southern – and global – research and policy in the future

INASP was established in 1992 as the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications. Founded by the International Council for Science (ICSU) in cooperation with UNESCO, TWAS and AAAS, the organization’s original goal was to improve worldwide access to science information.

As our remit evolved, access to information became part of a wider vision of helping research and evidence from the South make a greater contribution to solving local and global development challenges. Our work expanded to supporting Southern journals to improve the visibility of Southern research, working with policymakers to use evidence, and with researchers to produce and publish impactful research.

We outgrew our old name of International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications. Today we are simply known as INASP.

In 2016, we launched a five-year strategy, with a focus on strengthening the capacity of individuals and institutions to produce, share and use research and knowledge, which can transform lives.

Our strategic priorities from 2016-2020 include addressing gender equity in higher education, organizational capacity development for the better use of knowledge in public policy decision making, and developing critical thinking skills in students.

In 2017, we celebrated 25 years of putting research and knowledge at the heart of development.

Our friends and partners on how INASP has supported their work over 25 years